The Registration (Births and Deaths) Amendment Act 2026 takes effect today, introducing new restrictions on who can obtain a certified copy of a birth certificate from the Registry General. The change is designed to protect the public against identity theft and fraud involving one of Bermuda's most widely relied-upon identity documents.
People frequently use birth certificates to establish identity when applying for passports, driver's licences, financial services and a range of other official services. A review by the Registry General, supported by findings of the National Anti-Money Laundering Committee Working Group, identified the unrestricted public availability of certified birth certificates as a potential vulnerability that could be exploited for fraudulent purposes.
From today, a certified birth certificate may only be issued to:
• the individual to whom the certificate relates;
• a parent or guardian of the individual, or a child or grandchild of the individual who is at least 18 years of age;
• a person authorised in writing by the individual, who must be at least 18 years of age;
• a legal representative of a person mentioned above;
• a police officer with a court order authorising the obtaining of a copy; or
• a public officer who the Registrar General is satisfied requires a copy to carry out statutory duties.
Members of the public are reminded that the right to search the birth register during ordinary office hours, upon payment of the prescribed fee, remains unrestricted and unaffected by this change. Anyone who does not fall within the categories above may still search the register and obtain a plain copy of an entry but will not be issued with a certified birth certificate.
There is no increase in fees associated with this change. The total standard fee for requesting a birth certificate remains $60 ($35 for the certificate and $25 for the search fee) plus an additional $25 for express service if required.
The Registry General has issued a Public Guidance Note setting out the categories of eligible applicants and the documents required to confirm identity and entitlement in each case, including for applications made by a parent, guardian, child, grandchild, authorised person, or legal representative. The guidance note is available from the Registry General’s office and in the department’s resources section at gov.bm.
The Registry General will contact members of the public directly if their application is already in progress and is affected by the new eligibility requirements.
For more information or to submit an application, members of the public may visit the Registry General at Government Administration Building, 1st Floor, 30 Parliament Street, Hamilton HM12, or telephone 441 297 7739.
